2017 Reading Challenge discussion

What if there are no books set in your hometown? I live in a small, small hometown. I've already checked and there are no books. What should I read?

I feel like I'm going to run into this same problem. To be honest, I haven't spent a whole lot of time looking because I'm not really sure where to start.

My backup plan had been to go with Kansas City...largest city near me, until my librarian told me there was one. I would check with local librarian first to be sure there are not any, and if truly none, go with one nearby. Possibly nearest metropolitan. Especially if you have been there.

I think it could be a problem for me, too, as my hometown is fairly small. I was thinking about reading one set in my home state (Alabama). I thought it would broaden my options a good bit.

I come from one of those teeny tiny middle America towns. There is no hope of me ever finding a book set in my home town. I plan to pick a book from a city nearby. I found one that is set in a city (Columbia, MO) that is about an hour drive from where I grew up. I think that is about as close as I will be able to get.

There may be the possibility of finding a non-fiction book based in such places. Perhaps a town history, or a local scandal made it into print at some point? Calls to the nearest university or college library may yield something.

I would think you could just work outward until you find a book set in a place close-ish to you.

Or, a book set in a place you have lived could work.

Ask you librarian if there are any published authors in your hometown. I live in a fairly small N.E. Texas town (4000+/-) people and was surprised to find that there are at least 2 published authors in our town + one who grew up here and based part of one of his books on his childhood here.

My hometown is a tiny tiny village, I've picked a book set in the city closest to me, think that should count!

I agree! It'll be hard to find one set in my town, too, but I know there are some set in the general vicinity.

our library is doing this and we have encouraged people to use the state because not much is set in our very small town. I think the point is to have fun and so far they have been very creative.

I'm going with hometown being the town I live in which is nice and easy. Town I was born in is more challenging, and then getting hold of it...

My town is pretty small but our small claim to fame is having Abraham Lincoln stay there for awhile. So for the challenge I read a Lincoln biography, even though it only mentioned the town in footnotes!

I cheated a little with this category and instead of finding a book set in my hometown (which would have been impossible), I chose instead an author who came from a outport close by. Reading E. J. Pratt.

I am having a hard time with this one! Any ideas for a book in Sudbury Mass or Merrick NY ? I spent my childhood in both of this towns and really can't find anything!!

Try the state, that's what I'll be doing :)

I had the same problem so I chose a book set in my home state.

https://www.goodreads.com/places is an alphabetical listing of book settings as far as I can tell. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be searchable.

Thank you for the ideas